Archive | December 8th, 2015

Boston, Davao Oriental -Through FDS (Family Development Sessions) we learned that we need to secure our important documents and ready our disaster kit during calamities, said Ablan Toroba, a 55-year old Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary from Barangay Poblacion, Boston, Davao Oriental.

TS Pablo made its landfall on December 4, 2012. Boston, Davao Oriental was one of the hardest-hit towns.

“A coconut tree fell on our house. My wife, our four children and I hid in a huge boulder near our house,” Ablan reminisced.

Ablan was able to secure all their important documents, clean clothing and rice that could last them a week. Ablan and his wife Nina, 38, made a makeshift shack to house their children.

“The relief goods, blankets, mats, pans from DSWD arrived the next day. It was a big help especially to families who did not have dry, clean clothing to wear,” shared Ablan.

DSWD was one of the first agencies to respond and still has not left us yet. Because our house was totally damaged, they gave us a new place to live on November 2014. I was also able to avail of the cash-for-work program where we repaired schools, said Ablan.

Ablan is also one of the 850 recipients for Abaca Production Training in Boston. Each recipient was given a P 12,000.oo peso-worth starter kit which contains abaca tissue culture, bolo, pesticide, fertilizer and knapsack sprayer.

DSWD has been our constant companion. Before the typhoon, DSWD workers were the ones who prepared us through FDS. When the typhoon came, DSWD was one of the agencies that assisted us. And now that we are gradually rising from the devastation, DSWD is still there to ensure that we continue to move forward, Ablan said. ###